How can I prepare now for a career as a Firefighter?

Question

I really want to be a firefighter, and I'm 16, 17 in a month. What can I do to help me get there, besides volunteering, I already do that.

Answer 1

The best thing to do is to volunteer at a department, which you are already doing. Then you need to decide why you are taking a firefighting job. Is it because you like adrenaline rushes? Helping others? Girls think its hot? Make sure you are going into the fire services for the right reasons. No matter how macho a guy/girl thinks he/she is, the intense trauma and helpless feelings will eventually get to you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a firefighter and I absolutely love it, but it is sometimes hard to get past some of the grotesque things you inevitibly see.

Once you've figured that out, you can decide on what you want to do after high school. Since fire departments usually don't hire people under the age of 21, you will have some time to kill. Community college sometimes offer associates degrees in Fire Science, and some 4-year universities expand on that with B.S. degrees in Fire Management. If going straight to a 4-year university, and experiencing college life to its fullest (like me), is your thing, a public administration degree would be good, as it helps down the road with promotions to lieutenant, captain, etc. Any 4-year degree is attractive to fire departments. Sociology is another good one. I'm taking criminology right now because I'm not sure whether I want to be a cop or firefighter. (I'm leaning towards firefighting.)

If nothing like that suits your taste, remember that you can always be a volunteer and work a different job. As long as there are smaller towns, there will always be volunteer departments.

If you can test for a full time job before you are 21, that would be good, so you can experience what a firefighting test is really like. I did the same thing recently, and did fairly well. Now I'm waiting on a possible interview.

Most of all, don't get discouraged if you don't get hired the first time around, or you are not at the top of your class. Fire departments like people who are willing to learn their tactics and policies, and have good intentions and personalities. If you were meant to be a firefighter, someone down the line will notice, and it will all work out.

Answer 2

i am a volunteer firemen and the best thing you can do is take as many classes as you can so that you have them under your belt, your still young, read as many sog "s as you can, BUT THE MAIN THING IS CLASSES,,, AS MANY AS YOU CAN HANDLE, this gives you the upper hand, do all your city wide drills, so as to make yourself look good and to let them know you are out there,,I could tell you so much, but i guess times doesn't aloud it,

Answer 3

Get your phsyical up to the stage.
When you have a chance, talk to some of the firefighter.

Go for it, boy. Your spirit is greatly admired.

Answer 4

Build yourself up physically... It's a VERY physically-demanding job and you'll need plenty of stamina...

Answer 5

*Check on web-sites about fire fighting opportunities.*